Texas has highest number of minimum wage empolyees

In 2010, there were 550,000 Texas workers who worked for minimum wage, or even less, more than any other state.

Nearly half of those hourly-paid workers were women.

The Mayor of Waco says he would like to see more higher paying jobs become available, but having minimum wage jobs is better than unemployment. Mayor Jim Bush, says, "the upside of that is people do have jobs. I think in the long run you're going to have to have more industries like Caterpillar that will create jobs that will pay more than minimum wage."

Bush attributes this increase in minimum wage jobs to Texas' growing population. He says he is thankful that Texas has not been as affected by the downfall of the economy. However, he believes that once the economy improves, more jobs will become available that will provide people a greater quality of life.